Øystein Pettersen
Encyclopedia
Øystein "Sausage" Pettersen (born 19 January 1983 in Linderud
) is a Norwegian
cross country skier who has competed since 2002. He has four World Cup podiums, his best finish being second in individual sprint events (2006: Germany
, 2009: Estonia
). He and Petter Northug
won gold in the team sprint event
at the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver
, Canada
. In the Individual Sprint
he was one of three Norwegians to reach the six-man final.
in 2006 and in Estonia
in 2009. He did not compete in the 2006 Winter Olympics
, but did win a gold medal that year in the Scandinavian championships.
Pettersen was selected to join the Norwegian team
at the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver
, Canada
. In his first Olympic event, the individual sprint
, he placed 6th, one of three Norwegians who made it to the final competition round. He later won a gold medal with teammate Petter Northug
in the team sprint
event in a close finish with teams from Germany
and Russia
. Originally, Pettersen was not going to compete in the event, but a last-minute withdrawal by world champion Ola Vigen Hattestad
due to illness left a slot open, and Pettersen was chosen to fill it. A number of teams were in contention following Pettersen's performance during the first leg of the race, and it was not until the last hill that Northug passed his opponents and took the lead entering the stadium where the race finished.
Linderud
Linderud is a neighborhood in Bjerke borough, Oslo, Norway. The area originally formed part of the estate of Linderud Manor.-Linderud Manor:...
) is a Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
cross country skier who has competed since 2002. He has four World Cup podiums, his best finish being second in individual sprint events (2006: Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, 2009: Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
). He and Petter Northug
Petter Northug
Petter Northug Jr. is a Norwegian cross country skier and double Olympic champion. He has 9 World Championship and Winter Olympic gold medals with 13 medals overall, and nine individual FIS Cross-Country World Cup wins with 20 podium places...
won gold in the team sprint event
Cross-country skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's team sprint
The men's team sprint cross-country skiing competition in the freestyle technique at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada was held on 22 February at Whistler Olympic Park in Whistler, British Columbia....
at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In the Individual Sprint
Cross-country skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's sprint
The Men's sprint cross-country skiing competition in the classical technique at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada was held on 17 February at Whistler Olympic Park in Whistler, British Columbia....
he was one of three Norwegians to reach the six-man final.
Athletic career
Pettersen began competing in national events in 2002 and in junior international events in 2003. Although he has competed in dozens of events, he only finished in the top three at World Cup events five times, including second place finished in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 2006 and in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
in 2009. He did not compete in the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
, but did win a gold medal that year in the Scandinavian championships.
Pettersen was selected to join the Norwegian team
Norway at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Norway participated at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Norway sent 99 competitors to the games and ended up with the 4th largest amount of gold medals among participating nations.- Medalists :...
at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In his first Olympic event, the individual sprint
Cross-country skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's sprint
The Men's sprint cross-country skiing competition in the classical technique at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada was held on 17 February at Whistler Olympic Park in Whistler, British Columbia....
, he placed 6th, one of three Norwegians who made it to the final competition round. He later won a gold medal with teammate Petter Northug
Petter Northug
Petter Northug Jr. is a Norwegian cross country skier and double Olympic champion. He has 9 World Championship and Winter Olympic gold medals with 13 medals overall, and nine individual FIS Cross-Country World Cup wins with 20 podium places...
in the team sprint
Cross-country skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's team sprint
The men's team sprint cross-country skiing competition in the freestyle technique at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada was held on 22 February at Whistler Olympic Park in Whistler, British Columbia....
event in a close finish with teams from Germany
Germany at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Germany participated at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 153 athletes represented Germany, entering all 15 sports. Figure skater Sarah Hecken was the youngest team member, while Curling European Champion Andrea Schöpp was the oldest at 44...
and Russia
Russia at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Russia participated at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.In summary, the country's participants earned 15 medals: 3 gold, 5 silver and 7 bronze. The 3 gold medals was the worst ever result for Russia since competing after the breakup of the Soviet Union. The 15 total...
. Originally, Pettersen was not going to compete in the event, but a last-minute withdrawal by world champion Ola Vigen Hattestad
Ola Vigen Hattestad
Ola Vigen Hattestad is a Norwegian cross country skier who has competed since 2002. Competing in two Winter Olympics, hea earned his best finish of fourth in the individual sprint event at Vancouver in 2010....
due to illness left a slot open, and Pettersen was chosen to fill it. A number of teams were in contention following Pettersen's performance during the first leg of the race, and it was not until the last hill that Northug passed his opponents and took the lead entering the stadium where the race finished.